When I see Republicans using every trick in the book in an attempt to end Medicare as we know it, I wonder if they really understand what Medicare means to seniors.

 It’s more than just a way to pay for routine care like checkups and screenings. It’s a guarantee of economic security — a promise that, if you put in a lifetime of hard work, the floor won’t fall out from underneath your retirement because of a health problem.

 Every day, I hear from Washington seniors who rely on this promise — and from people still in the workforce who wonder if it will be there for them when they retire. That’s why I’m committed to strengthening Medicare. I fought to pass reform that will send $250 rebates to 62,000 Washington seniors — a down payment on closing the prescription drug “donut hole.”

That’s the path forward on Medicare: bringing down costs, improving quality, and maintaining that promise of retirement security.

 But some see a different path, one in which Medicare would be turned into a voucher program. This would be great for insurance companies — but it would require seniors to pay more. And with so many living on a fixed income, this could leave them with nowhere to turn. A program like that wouldn’t be fair to seniors who rely on Medicare for their economic security. It wouldn’t be Medicare at all.

 Medicare is critical to the retirement security of millions. It is a promise we made nearly half a century ago, one of the best things we’ve done as a country. And protecting it is one of the jobs I’m most proud to do.

 I’ll be in touch soon with an update on our fight to protect Medicare. But, for now, thank you for being part of this team.

 Maria